[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28598-28599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11709]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-12-12JM]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-7570 or 
send comments to Kimberly S. Lane, at 1600 Clifton Road, MS D74, 
Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Improving the Health and Safety of the Diverse Workforce--New--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Stress is one of the major causes of diminished health, safety, and 
productivity on the job (Jordan et al,

[[Page 28599]]

2003; Brunner, 2000). Increasing medical care utilization costs, job 
dissatisfaction, poor job performance, and employee turnover are some 
of the documented health, economic, psychological, and behavioral 
consequences of stress (Levi, 1996).
    Racial and ethnic minority groups often shoulder a disproportionate 
burden of stress-related illnesses. For example, the age-adjusted 
prevalence of hypertension is 40.5% among Blacks compared to 27.4% 
among non-Hispanic Whites. Further, some cancers are 5 times greater 
among Asians, Type II diabetes is 2-5 times greater among Hispanics, 
and depression is 4-6 times greater among Native Americans (Carter-
Pokras & Woo, 2002). Few studies thus far, however, have explored 
factors in the workplace that may contribute to these disparities.
    Because of their general concentration in high-hazard and/or lower-
status occupations, some racial and ethnic minority workers may be 
over-exposed to workplace factors (e.g., high workload and low job 
control) which have traditionally linked to a variety of stress-related 
health and safety problems. In addition, racial and ethnic minorities 
appear to be significantly more likely than non-minorities to encounter 
discrimination and other race-related stressors in the workplace (e.g., 
Krieger et al, 2006; Roberts et al, 2004).
    Given a potentially greater stress burden, racial and ethnic 
minority workers may be at heightened risk for the development of 
health and safety problems associated with stress. On the other hand, 
occupational stress research experts suggest that certain workplace and 
other factors (e.g., co-worker and supervisory support, anti-
discrimination policies and practices, etc.) may help reduce stress 
among employees, including racial and ethnic minorities.
    Occupational hazards have been found to be distributed 
differentially with workers possessing specific biologic, social, and/
or economic characteristics more likely to experience increased risks 
of work-related diseases and injuries. Consequently, CDC/NIOSH 
established the Occupational Health Disparities (OHD) program. Part of 
the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), the goals of the OHD 
program are to conduct research ``to define the nature and magnitude of 
risks experienced by vulnerable populations, including racial and 
ethnic minorities, and to develop appropriate intervention and 
communication strategies to reduce these health and safety risks.''
    CDC/NIOSH requests OMB approval to collect standardized information 
from working adults via a telephone interview. Respondents will be 
asked about: (1) Their exposure to workplace and job stressors, 
including those related to race and ethnicity (2) their health and 
safety status and (3) organizational (e.g., organizational 
characteristics, policies and practices that may or may not buffer them 
from the adverse effects of work-related stressors. Respondents will be 
a random sample of 2,300 Blacks/African Americans, White/European 
Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indian/Alaska Natives, 
and Asian Americans. All telephone interview respondents will be 
between the ages of 18 and 65, English-speaking, either currently 
employed or unemployed for no more than 3 years, and living within the 
Chicago Metropolitan area. The estimated burden per response is 30 
minutes.
    CDC/NIOSH will use the information gather through the telephone 
interviews to evaluate (1) the degree of exposure of minority and non-
minority workers to various workplace and job stressors (2) the impact 
of these stressors on health and safety outcomes and on (3) the 
organizational (e.g., organizational characteristics, policies and 
practices) and other factors that protect minority and other workers 
from stress and associated problems in health and safety. The data 
collection will ultimately help CDC/NIOSH focus intervention and 
prevention efforts that are designed to benefit the health and safety 
of the diverse American workforce. There are no costs to respondents 
other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of      Avg. burden
     Type of respondents           Form name         Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)
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Individual...................  Telephone                   2,300               1           30/60           1,150
                                Interviews.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  .................  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,150
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Kimberly S. Lane,
Deputy Director, Office of Science Integrity, Office of the Associate 
Director for Science, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-11709 Filed 5-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P